Scythe-blade fastener.



UNTTED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT Tries.

SCYTHE-BLADE FASTENER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,509, dated June 13, 1905.

Application filed March 3, 1905. Serial No. 248,362.

To (LZZ 1072,0771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen MERRIHUE FnNN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Scythe-Blade Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to scytheblade fasteners, and particularly to that class embodying a swinging socket-plate. Attachmen ts of this character as heretofore generally constructed consist, essentially, of a thimble or collar which is held combined with the heel of the scythe through the medium of the eyebolt that engages the shank of the scythe-blade to hold it in position, the socket-plate being pivoted to the heel independentlyof the thimble. Owing to the fact that there is no means for holding the thimble upon the snath-heel other than the eyebolt referred to, the thimble is frequently lost, this being due to exposure of the snath to the elements, and more particularly to the heat of the sun, which causes the snath to shrink and the thimble to expand, and renders the union between the parts loose, and thus insecure.

It is the object of the present invention in a ready, simple, thoroughly feasible, and practical manner to construct the thimble or collar in such manner as to render its accidental separation from the snath impossible and, further, positively to combine the socket-plate directly with the thimble, thereby providing an additional means for holding the thimble in position.

Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the various novel details of construction of a and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation, exhibiting the heel of a scythe-snath with the improved fastener of the present invention combined therewith, a portion of the scythe-blade being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a View in longitudinal section through the snath and attachment, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through the snath and fastener, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrow thereon. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the thimble or collar. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the eyebolt. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the socket-plate. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the locking-disk cooperating with the locking-plate to hold the same against movement when once adjusted. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view of a slightlymodified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, S designates the heel portion of an ordinary scythe-snath, such as is in common use, and 13 (indicated by dotted lines) the blade of an ordinary scythe having the usual shank b and tang 6 The thimble comprises a body portion 1, approximately semicircular in shape, and having a flat top plate 2, the latter being provided with a transverse slot 3 and the former with a circular orifice t, the slot and orifice to be engaged, respectively, by the head 5 and shank 6 of the eyebolt, (designated generally 7.) The thimble so far described is similar to those in common use, and as an improvement thereon there is combined With the outer end of the body a plate 8, which serves to limit the projection of the snath into the thimble, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the body opposite the stop-plate is provided on its upper side with an extension 9, having an orifice 10, and reinforced by an approximately semicircular rib 11, the upper face of the extension 9 and top plate 2 being approximately in the same plane. Projecting from the lower portion of the body opposite the stop-plate is an extension 12, which in effect constitutes ashank and is provided at its free end with an orifice 13 for a purpose that will presently appear. The top plate 2 is provided on its forward end and one side with an upstanding rib 1 upon which the under side ofthe scythe-shank bears and which constitutes a gripping member to hold the scythe against any movement relatively to the thimble when the bolt 7 is tightened, the latter being provided with a nut 15 for this purpose, as usual. The thimble, with its accessories, as described, is made of a single piece of metal cast or otherwise formed to the desired shape and may be made of any material suited for the purpose, such as malleable cast-iron or the like.

The socket-plate 16 is approximately triangular in plan and is provided at its narrow end with a rabbeted narrow terminal 17,which is adapted to rest upon the extension 9, the said terminal being provided with an orifice 18 to aline with the orifice 10 in the extension, and through the two orifices is passed a screw or nail-screw 19, which by being seated in the snath positively holds the socket pivotally connected with the thimble. Generally it will be preferred to employ the fastener 19, inasmuch as it provides a supplemental means of securing the thimble to the snath; but. if preferred, the socket-plate and extension may be connected by a rivet 20, as shown in Fig. 8, and still be within the scope of the invention. The broad end of the socket -plate is provided, as usual, with a transverse slot 21 and with a plurality of longitudinal orifices 22 in this instance two in number--which are adapted to be engaged by the tang of the snath, as clearly shown in 2. The upper and the under face of the plate on each side of the slot 21 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally-disposed approximately \l-shaped depressions 23 and 524, the depressions 23 being adapted to be engaged by teeth 25, projecting upward from alocking-disk 26 that is seated in a wall or depression 27 on the upper side of the snath, the under face of the disk being provided with similar teeth 28, which are adapted to sinkinto the wood of the snath and thus hold the disk from turning, a pin 29, carried by the disk, serving to accentuate this feature. The depressions 24 are engaged by fins or lugs 30, carried by the under sideof the head 31 of alocking-bolt 32, which projects through the slot 21 of the soeketplate and through the orifice 13 of the extension 12 and carries on its lower end a nut 33, bearing against the said extension. By this arrangement it will be seen that the bolt employed for locking the socket-plate against movement also serves positively to clamp or lock the extension 12 against the scythesnath, and by this means positively holds the thimble against possibility of accidental separation even though the same should become loose, as from shrinkage of the snath. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the

provision of the extension 9 will operate to throw the upper face of the socket-plate above the plane of the top plate 2 of the thimble, and in order to rectify this and to cause the under side of the scythe to occupy a plane parallel with the upper side of the snath the rib 14: is provided, which not only operates to secure this function, but also, as above pointed out, acts as an additional holding element to prevent movement of the scythe when once adjusted.

The manner in which the scythe is adjusted relatively to the snath, so as to secure the proper hang of the scythe-blade to suit the user, is accomplished in the following manner: The nut 15 is first loosened, thereby to relieve the pressure of the head of the eyebolt upon the snath-shank, and the nut is then loosened to permit the fins 30 to be free of engagement with the depressions 24; of the socket-plate, and the latter is then moved to the right or left to secure the adjustment desire l, after which the nuts are tightened, thereby positively locking the blade in its adjusted position.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the improvements of this invention are simple in character, they will be positive in securing the results designed, and will result in the production. of a thoroughly efficient and positively-operating form of scythe-blade fastener. Furthermore, it will be noted that to adapt the improvements herein defined to a scythe-snath will require no change in its structural arrangement, as the orifices that are usually provided for receiving the eyebolt and the locking-bolt may be employed for the like parts of this device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A thimble provided on one side with a relatively short extension, on its other side with a relatively long extension, both extensions being disposed in the direction of the length of the thimble, and a socket-plate pivotally connected with the shorter extension.

i The combination with a scythe-snath, of a thimble provided on one side with a relatively short extension, on its opposite side with a relatively long extension, both of the extensions being disposed in the direction of the length of the thimble, a socket-plate pivotally connected with the shorter extension, and a locking-bolt passing through the socketplate and through the longer extension.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of witnesses.

GEORGE MERRIHUE FENN.

\Vitnesses:

Lewis J. DANN, U. \V. MonnnLL, WILLIAM C. MARKHAM. 

